/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 5 You're a passenger in a car roun... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91影视

91影视

Log out

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 3: Problem 5

You're a passenger in a car rounding a curve. The driver claims the car isn't accelerating because the speedometer reading is unchanging. Explain why the driver is wrong.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The driver is wrong because even though the speed of the car is constant, the car is changing its direction of movement while rounding the curve. In physics, acceleration is a measure of how velocity changes, not just speed. So, since the car's velocity is changing due to the change in direction, the car is indeed accelerating.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Acceleration

Firstly, one must understand that acceleration is a measure of how quickly velocity changes. It is a vector quantity, having both magnitude (speed) and direction. Even if the speed (magnitude of velocity) is constant, a change in direction of velocity also results in acceleration.
02

Applying the Concept of Acceleration

In the scenario, the car is moving around a curve. This means the direction of the car's travel is changing, even if the speedometer reading (speed) remains constant. Since acceleration depends on the change in velocity (which takes into account both speed and direction), the car is indeed accelerating as it is changing its direction of motion.
03

Forming the Conclusion

Therefore, despite the constant speed, there exists an acceleration. More specifically, this type of acceleration is called centripetal acceleration, which is the acceleration of an object moving in a circular path.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91影视!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

The table below lists position versus time for an object moving in the \(x-y\) plane, which is horizontal in this case. Make a plot of position \(y\) versus \(x\) to determine the nature of the object's path. Then determine the magnitudes of the object's velocity and acceleration. $$\begin{array}{ccc} \text { Time, } t(\mathrm{s}) & x(\mathrm{m}) & y(\mathrm{m}) \\ 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0.10 & 0.65 & 0.09 \\ 0.20 & 1.25 & 0.33 \\ 0.30 & 1.77 & 0.73 \\ 0.40 & 2.17 & 1.25 \\ 0.50 & 2.41 & 1.85 \\ 0.60 & 2.50 & 2.50 \end{array}$$ $$\begin{array}{ccc} \text { Time, } t(\mathrm{s}) & x(\mathrm{m}) & y(\mathrm{m}) \\ 0.70 & 2.41 & 3.15 \\ 0.80 & 2.17 & 3.75 \\ 0.90 & 1.77 & 4.27 \\ 1.00 & 1.25 & 4.67 \\ 1.10 & 0.65 & 4.91 \\ 1.20 & 0.00 & 5.00 \end{array}$$

A soccer player can kick the ball \(28 \mathrm{m}\) on level ground, with its initial velocity at \(40^{\circ}\) to the horizontal. At the same initial speed and angle to the horizontal, what horizontal distance can the player kick the ball on a \(15^{\circ}\) upward slope?

A car drives north at \(40 \mathrm{mi} / \mathrm{h}\) for 10 min, then turns east and goes \(5.0 \mathrm{mi}\) at \(60 \mathrm{mi} / \mathrm{h}\). Finally, it goes southwest at \(30 \mathrm{mi} / \mathrm{h}\) for 6.0 min. Determine the car's (a) displacement and (b) average velocity for this trip.

How is it possible for an object to be moving in one direction but accelerating in another?

The New York Wheel is the world's largest Ferris wheel. It's 183 meters in diameter and rotates once every 37.3 min. Find the magnitudes of (a) the average velocity and (b) the average acceleration at the wheel's rim, over a 5.00 -min interval. (c) Compare your answer to (b) with the wheel's instantaneous accelerations.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Mechanics and Materials

Read Explanation

Physical Quantities And Units

Read Explanation

Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Read Explanation

Nuclear Physics

Read Explanation

Oscillations

Read Explanation

Rotational Dynamics

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.